MAAC Announces 2008 Women's Lacrosse Awards
MAAC Sports
New Rochelle, N.Y. Fairfield University freshman Kristen Coleman and Marist College senior Lindsey Diener have been selected as Women’s Lacrosse Co-Offensive Players of the Year, while Fairfield senior Mary Vallely earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row to headline the 2008 Women’s Lacrosse All-MAAC Teams, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
Coleman was also tabbed as the Rookie of the Year, while Iona College’s Lauren Rywak earned Anaconda Sports Coach of the Year honors.
Coleman, a 5-foot-11 midfielder, led the conference in goals per game (3.59) and points (81) this season. Her 81 points set a Fairfield single-season record. Coleman also topped the league with five game winning goals as she helped lead Fairfield to the MAAC Regular Season title and a 16-1 overall record. She was selected for a weekly award in eight consecutive weeks, winning Offensive Player of the Week three times, Defensive Player of the Week once, and Rookie of the Week four times.
Diener, the 2008 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, was third in the league with an average of 4.06 points per game. She averaged 2.31 goals per game (fifth) and 1.75 assists per game (third) as the Red Foxes finished second in the conference with 217 goals scored.
Vallely, the 2007 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and a preseason All-MAAC choice, finished first in the conference in caused turnovers with 28, helping the Stags finish first in the league as a team with 11.47 per contest.
Rywak, who was appointed as the Gaels’ first ever women’s lacrosse coach prior to the 2004 season, led Iona (3-3 MAAC, 7-10) to its first appearance at the MAAC Championship. Iona’s three conference wins are the most in program history and its seven overall equal the previous high set a year ago. The Gaels’ success is a result of their stingy defense that finished first in ground balls per game (27.41) and second in goals against average (11.06).
The All-MAAC First Team consists of Canisius’ Ashley Gray, Chelsea Martinez, Erica Nasca, and Lauren Walsh, Fairfield’s Coleman, Vallely, and Erin Rigby, Iona’s Jaclyn O’Leary, Manhattan’s Keri Morrison and Alicia Psillos, and Marist’s Diener and goalie Elizabeth Burkhard.
All-MAAC First Team
Lauren Walsh, Canisius
Erin Rigby, Fairfield
Alicia Psillos, Manhattan
Kristen Coleman, Fairfield
Lindsey Diener, Marist
Jaclyn O’Leary, Iona
Ashley Gray, Canisius
Chelsea Martinez, Canisius
Mary Vallely, Fairfield
Erica Nasca, Canisius
Keri Morrison, Manhattan
Elizabeth Burkhard, Marist
All-MAAC Second Team
Ali Carnabuci, Marist
Abbey Goodwin, Fairfield
Lindsay Rinefierd, Marist
Katie Noftsker, Marist
Liz Falco, Marist
Rebecca White, Fairfield
Tara Convery, Manhattan
Katie von Hoffman, Fairfield
Stephanie Garland, Marist
Gail Zonghetti, Iona
Ashley Dattellas, Marist
Carolyn Sumcizk, Marist
Lauren Chatnik, Fairfield
Offensive Player of the Year
Kristen Coleman, Fairfield
Lindsey Diener, Marist
Defensive Player of the Year
Mary Vallely, Fairfield
Rookie of the Year
Kristen Coleman, Fairfield
Anaconda Sports Coach of the Year
Lauren Rywak, Iona